Food Allergies
Food allergies are extremely common. In fact, they affect around 5% of adults
and 8% of children — and these percentages are rising (1).
Interestingly, although it's possible for any food to cause an allergy, most food
allergies are caused by just eight foods (2).
It's caused by your immune system wrongly recognizing some of the proteins
in a food as harmful. Your body then launches a range of protective measures,
including releasing chemicals like histamine, which causes inflammation.
For people who have a food allergy, even exposure to very small amounts of
the problem food can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can occur anywhere from a few minutes after exposure to a few
hours later, and they may include some of the following:
In more severe cases, a food allergy can cause anaphylaxis. Symptoms, which
can come on very quickly, include an itchy rash, swelling of the throat or
tongue, shortness of breath and low blood pressure. Some cases can be fatal
(3).
However, food intolerances never involve the immune system. This means that
while they can severely impact your quality of life, they are not life
threatening.
True food allergies can be divided into two main types: IgE antibody or non-
IgE antibody. Antibodies are a type of blood protein used by your immune
system to recognize and fight infection (4).
In an IgE food allergy, the IgE antibody is released by your immune system. In
a non-IgE food allergy, IgE antibodies aren't released, and other parts of the
immune system are used to fight the perceived threat.
1. Cow's Milk
An allergy to cow's milk is most often seen in babies and young children,
especially when they have been exposed to cow's milk protein before they are
six months old (5, 6).
It's one of the most common childhood allergies, affecting 2–3% of babies and
toddlers (7).
However, around 90% of children will outgrow the condition by the time
they're three, making it much less common in adults.
A cow's milk allergy can occur in both IgE and non-IgE forms, but IgE cow milk
allergies are the most common and potentially the most serious.
Children or adults with an IgE allergy tend to have a reaction within 5–30
minutes of ingesting cow's milk. They experience symptoms like swelling,
rashes, hives, vomiting and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis.
Milk
Milk powder
Cheese
Butter
Margarine
Yogurt
Cream
Ice cream
SUMMARY:A cow's milk allergy mostly affects children under the age of
three. A diagnosis of cow's milk allergy means that all milk and milk products
must be avoided.
2. Eggs
An egg allergy is the second most common cause of food allergy in children
(10, 11).
However, 68% of children who are allergic to eggs will outgrow their allergy
by the time they're 16 (12).
Symptoms include:
Yet most of the proteins that trigger an allergy are found in egg whites, so an
egg white allergy is more common (11).
Like other allergies, the treatment for an egg allergy is an egg-free diet (13).
However, you may not have to avoid all egg-related foods, as heating eggs
can change the shape of the allergy-causing proteins. This can stop your body
from seeing them as harmful, meaning they're less likely to cause a reaction
(14, 15, 16).
In fact, one study found that around 70% of children with an egg allergy could
tolerate eating biscuits or cakes containing a cooked egg component (17).
Some studies have also shown that introducing baked goods to children with
an egg allergy can shorten the time it takes for them to outgrow the condition
(18).
Nevertheless, this isn't the case for everybody, and the consequences of
ingesting eggs when you are allergic to them can be severe. Because of this,
you should check with your doctor before you reintroduce any egg-containing
foods.
SUMMARY:The most common type of egg allergy is an egg white allergy. The
treatment is an egg-free diet. However, some people may be able to
reintroduce some foods containing cooked eggs into their diet.
3. Tree Nuts
A tree nut allergy is an allergy to some of the nuts and seeds that come from
trees.
It's a very common food allergy that's thought to affect around 1% of the US
population (19, 20, 21).
Brazil nuts
Almonds
Cashews
Macadamia nuts
Pistachios
Pine nuts
Walnuts
People with a tree nut allergy will also be allergic to food products made with
these nuts, such as nut butters and oils.
They are advised to avoid all types of tree nuts, even if they are only allergic to
one or two types (22).
This is because being allergic to one type of tree nut increases your risk of
developing an allergy to other types of tree nuts.
Additionally, it's easier to avoid all nuts, rather than just one or two types. And
unlike some other allergies, an allergy to tree nuts is usually a lifelong
condition.
Allergies can also be very severe, and tree nut allergies are responsible for
around 50% of anaphylaxis-related deaths (23, 24).
Because of this, people with nut allergies (as well other potentially life-
threatening allergies) are advised to carry an epi-pen with them at all times.
SUMMARY:A tree nut allergy is one of the most common food allergies. It's
frequently associated with severe allergic reactions, and the treatment is
usually a lifelong avoidance of all tree nuts and tree nut products.
4. Peanuts
Like a tree nut allergy, peanut allergies are very common and can cause severe
and potentially fatal allergic reactions.
While the reason people develop a peanut allergy isn't known, it is thought
that people with a family history of peanut allergies are most at risk.
Peanut allergies affect around 4–8% of children and 1–2% of adults (27, 28).
However, around 15–22% of children who develop a peanut allergy will find it
resolves as they move into their teenage years.
However, new treatments are being developed for children with peanut
allergies. These involve giving precise and small amounts of peanuts under
strict medical supervision in an attempt to desensitize them to the allergy
(29, 30).
5. Shellfish
A shellfish allergy is caused by your body attacking proteins from the
crustacean and mollusk families of fish, which are known as shellfish.
Shrimp
Prawns
Crayfish
Lobster
Squid
Scallops
This is because the symptoms can be similar, as both can cause digestive
issues like vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
A shellfish allergy doesn't tend to resolve over time, so most people with the
condition must exclude all shellfish from their diet to avoid having an allergic
reaction (33).
Interestingly, even the vapors from cooking shellfish can trigger a shellfish
allergy in those who are allergic. This means that many people are also
advised to avoid being around seafood when it's being cooked (34).
It tends to affect children the most. Although, children with a wheat allergy
often outgrow it by the time they reach 10 years of age (35).
Like other allergies, a wheat allergy can result in digestive distress, hives,
vomiting, rashes, swelling and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
It is often confused with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which
can have similar digestive symptoms.
On the other hand, celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity are not life
threatening. They are caused by an abnormal immune reaction to one specific
protein — gluten — that also happens to be found in wheat (37).
People with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity have to avoid wheat
and other grains that contain the protein gluten.
People with a wheat allergy only need to avoid wheat and can tolerate gluten
from grains that don't contain wheat.
7. Soy
Soy allergies affect around 0.4% of children and are most commonly seen in
infants and children under three (38).
The symptoms can range from an itchy, tingly mouth and runny nose to a rash
and asthma or breathing difficulties. In rare cases, a soy allergy can also cause
anaphylaxis (39).
Interestingly, a small number of babies who are allergic to cow's milk are also
allergic to soy (40).
Common food triggers of soy allergy include soybeans and soy products like
soy milk or soy sauce. Since soy is found in many foods, it's important to read
food labels.
Like other allergies, the only treatment for soy allergy is the avoidance of soy.
8. Fish
Fish allergies are common, affecting up to around 2% of adults (41).
Unlike other allergies, it's not uncommon for a fish allergy to surface later in
life, with 40% of people developing the allergy as an adult (42).
Like a shellfish allergy, a fish allergy can cause a serious and potentially fatal
allergic reaction. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, but, in rare
cases, anaphylaxis can also occur.
This means that those who are allergic to fish are usually given an epi-pen to
carry in case they accidentally eat fish.
Because the symptoms can be similar, a fish allergy is sometimes confused for
a reaction to a contaminant in fish, such as bacteria, viruses or toxins
(43, 44, 45).
What's more, since shellfish and fish with fins don't carry the same proteins,
people who are allergic to shellfish may not be allergic to fish.
However, many people with a fish allergy are allergic to one or more types of
fish.
eggs
fish
milk
nuts from trees (including hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, and Brazil nuts)
peanuts (groundnuts)
soya
wheat
European countries have additional top allergens that include sesame, celery, lupin (a
legume), and mustard.